The 1846 Slater's
Commercial Directory, describes Kilbeggan as being a small market town and parish
in the barony of Moycashel, 56 miles from Dublin, situated on the banks of the
small river Brosna. Industry flourished in the 19thC, with a large distillery, a
brewery, two mills for flour and oatmeal and a manufactory for tobacco and
snuff. There was a national school in which 150 children received instruction
and a market day was held every Saturday. In 1841 the population of Kilbeggan
was 1,910.

It is in Kilbeggan that John Brennan was baptised at the Church of St James on
12 November 1819 the son of Hugh and Ellen (nee Daly) Brennan. His sponsors were
James McCabe and Anne Armstrong. John had two sisters that we know of, Ellen
baptised February 1822 and Rose baptised December 1827.

John's father, Hugh, died in July 1828 and his wife Ellen was left to bring up
three young children on her own: John aged 8, Ellen 6 and young Rose, 7mths.

At the age of 21 John married Bridget Looram at St James Church on 6 June 1841.
Witnesses were Thomas Fagan and Bridget Smyth. John's occupation was listed as a
farm steward and army pension.